Published May 16, 2026 | 9:27 PM ⚊ Updated May 16, 2026 | 9:58 PM
Bandi Sai Bageerath, accused of sexually assaulting a minor.
Synopsis: Police said Bandi Sai Bageerath was arrested near the Police Academy in Narsingi. His father, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, claimed he turned him over the police since he felt that any further delay would be inappropriate.
Eight days after an FIR was registered against him, Bandi Sai Bageerath, accused of sexually assaulting a minor, was arrested on Saturday, 16 May.
Bageerath’s arrest came a day after the Vacation Bench of the Telangana High Court declined to grant his request for interim relief. The police recorded his arrest after a magistrate had taken the survivor’s statement.
On Friday, Justice T Madhavi Devi of the High Court declined to issue any order on Bageeath’s anticipatory bail plea. The court was expected to issue an order next week.
However, following his arrest, the order reserved has become infructuous.
Also Read: No HC respite for Bageerath
“We have arrested Bandi Bageerath,” Cyberabad Police Commissioner Ramesh Reddy said. “We apprehended Bandi near the Police Academy in Narsingi. We are currently shifting Bandi Bageerath to the Pet-Basheerabad Police Station.”
However, Bageerath’s father and the Union Minister for Home, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, said he turned his son over to the police through his legal team.
It has been alleged that Bageerath was in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, whom he had met through common friends, and sexually assaulted her. A case was filed after the girl’s mother complained to the Pet-Basheerabad police on 8 May.
The police, on Tuesday, 12 May, had issued a notice to Bageerath, asking him to appear before the investigators for questioning at 2 pm on 13 May. The accused, however, sought two days to present himself before the police.
He said the summons was issued at “extremely short notice” and that a “personal inconvenience” prevented him from appearing.
Bageerath faces charges under Section 5(l) read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, invoking provisions related to aggravated penetrative sexual assault, besides relevant sections of the BNS.
The delay in arresting Bageerath sparked protests from various quarters, and the police were accused of going slow on the case.
In a media statement, Union Minister Bandi Sanjai claimed that he had turned his son over to the police for interrogation through his counsel.
“In light of the allegations levelled against my son, Bandi Bhagirath—and out of deep respect for the law—I have today, through our legal counsel, handed him over to the police for interrogation,” he said.
Urging that all must abide by the law, the minister said, “everyone is equal—whether it be my own child or a common citizen”.
Bandi Sanjay said Bageerath has been reiterating that he had not committed any wrong.
“In fact, as soon as the complaint was lodged, I intended to hand him over at the police station immediately. However, we consulted with our lawyers, and my son presented the evidence in our possession to them,” the minister said.
Explaining the delay in surrendering, Bandi Sanjay said the lawyers reviewed the evidence and expressed confidence that the case would likely be quashed and that bail would certainly be granted.
“Even today, the lawyers maintain that bail is likely to be granted,” he said.
The minister said he handed Bageerath over to the police through their legal representatives since he felt any further delay would be inappropriate.
Expressing faith in the judicial system, Bandi Sanjay said the truth will prevail.
On Friday, at a media conclave in Hyderabad, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy advised the Union Minister to ask his son to surrender before the police and facilitate the investigation. Hours later, the high court denied bail, shutting all possible options to evade arrest.
